Posted on 01/27/2014 2:55:40 AM PST by Red in Blue PA
As brutal cold continues to blast much of the nation, a propane shortage is driving up heating bills, prompting accusations of price gouging and leading to energy emergencies in more than a dozen states.
"They're worried they might not be able to keep those chickens warm," said Jeff Helms of the Alabama Farmers Federation.
And consumers are grousing about higher prices.
"It looks like there's some price gouging going on," said Phillip Wallace, director of schools in Stewart County, Tenn., which were closed Thursday and Friday because they were short on propane for heating classrooms. The district was due to receive 2,000 gallons. But Wallace complained the propane cost $3.45 a gallon, up from $1.29.
(Excerpt) Read more at mcall.com ...
I REALLY don’t need this news right now
Our whole house generator runs on propane, but barring any extended outages, it doesn’t use much. If it does go out though, the bill will be a heck of a sticker shock.
Uuuuunh! Doesn’t propane slow down turning to gas at 0 or colder?
Went to a relative’s house for Christmas diner one year. Down to 10 degrees. Propane wouldn’t flow to the oven so we had ham sandwiches instead of turkey
???
I got a $3.49 quote in December, that seemed high but I had no choice, so I ordered it. By the time they delivered the bastards charged me $3.99 This is the last year I am going to be held hostage, I am going to buy my own tanks.
I'm in SW Pa and the last two weeks have been closer to 0 and below than not and the only thing I saw was a slightly smaller flame (I use propane for my cook stove ... 100 gallons lasts ... well ... my last fill was Oct. 2010 )
I own mine, but I'm calling the fuel company when they open in a couple of hours.
I'm not so concerned about propane as I am about home heating oil.
How much will they cost?
I have about 6 acres of woods...
Its not GD price gouging, its the market.
There’s no such thing as price gouging.
Agree. Back during the period after Hurricane Sandy, some gas stations were charging $6.00 per gallon. Some called that gouging.
But with so few trucks getting through with gas, that is a price which the market came to which necessarily kept people from hoarding if they did not need it. High prices serve a purpose during times like that and I saw it first-hand.
Not sure. But I have to pay $90 a year for “tank rental” right now, so whatever they cost is worth it.
We just ordered propane here in east central Indiana. They quoted a price of $6.25! The receptionist said they were not getting their usual supplies; a shortage. Our vendor is limiting each delivery to 200 gallons. Thankfully this is for heating our workshop and not our home.
I believe it freezes at -58F.
I’m not saying it is happening in this case but intentionally causing shortages to push up prices is gouging. It’s the reason we don’t like monopolies.
What high prices accomplish is ensuring that the wealthy get what they want while the do without regardless of need. That’s why left wing elites like high gas prices.
I meant to include the word poor.
During the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, Potassium Iodide tablets which normally sell for $10 were selling for $300 on Ebay. People in places like Kansas were buying them when there was no need. Once again, high prices ensured that only those who needed them most ought them. Why keep the price artificially low so that paranoid people who live nowhere near a nuclear plant can hoard them? That is insane.
Good move.....but the companies are so busy delivering propane you might have to wait a while....
then you still have to buy propane to fill the tank.
If you don't have a contract with a delivery company ...you will be at the bottom of the list as priority goes to those with annual contracts.
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